Comment on Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied
Tell us what you think about The Inquirer's series, Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied by commenting below.
Comment on Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied
Tell us what you think about The Inquirer's series, Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied by commenting below.
Comments (109)
Congratulations on a well done series. The ultimate objective of this paper is to educate and inform the public, this reasonably balanced piece demonstrates that example of democracy in action. What has failed is that many people haven't developed the skills to read and interpret these reports. They want sound bites and cannot stay with the narrative thread and if it ain't black, it's white. The grey areas in this report show that yes progress is being made and some people aren't happy with changes and that the DA has IT issues (or he's using that as an excuse). Bringing into the light so that we can see what is in the shadows is what this paper should be about and many people will disagree with many pieces conclusions. But that is what we are supposed to do, think for ourselves with the information presented. Life isn't a TV show with well placed conclusions and everything is set by the end, the hard work to get people to cooperate who don't want to cooperate makes it hard to get results. I applaud the current DA's implementation of his policies and hope that the analysis shows it is working.— nala- omg what has happened to this city ??????this is just too much thank god my kids are grown and out of this city i am ashamed to tell people where i am from with all the crime and drugs what chance does anyone have in this city !!!! please we need more honest cops and a stonger DA... god help us all !!!!
- Why don't they fire everyone who's involved in the city's legal system and hire all new people. It's obvious the people who are presently working for our legal justice system don't know what the heck they're doing and they need to be removed! I say start using Capital Punishment more often. I'm tired of criminals being treated with kid gloves as victims and witnesses are beaten down and made to be the criminals. Start public hangings again. As evil as that sounds.. you have to fight evil with evil when it gets this bad. I don't care what the soft hearted liberals say. They all live in white towers in the rich suburban areas where they don't have to worry about being shot by some stupid kid who wants to be like a gangsta' rapper. Politicians are too yellow bellied to do what needs to be done. Everyone is so busy looking after their own butts, worrying about votes that they do nothing but punish the law abiding citizens for their incompetence by making us have to live with this. FIRE THEM ALL and KILL ALL THE DEAD BEATS WHO WILL NEVER CHANGE!— HappyJoy
- Disgusting! There's a great deal wrong with our society and certain cultures which we pretend don't exist, much less do antything about.— Nike Officer
- Prison: If you build it, they will come. In any event, here's a suggestion for fixing the fugitive defendant problem: Amend the applicable law to provide that any criminal defendat who fails to appear for a scheduled court date without good cause, i.e., defective notice of the hearing or a documented medical emergency etc., will be incarcerated for the maximum period provided for under the most serious pending charge against him. Thus, if the defendant is charged with a felony with a sentencing range of 1 to 5 years, he will automatically serve 5 years even if the DA never even proceeds on the underlying charge.— Stephen_Niksa
- in todays society when people tell on the bad guy they are looked at as the bad guy crazy, however i think all these guys who claim to be gangsters need to be sent over to iraq, afghanistan and places like that. since we the tax payer has to provide our tax dollars to take care of these prisoners we should train them for war. put these chumps who like to shoot innocent people without a weapon on the front line in warfare and see how they fair. these young guys have not a clue how to become a man or woman, they run around terrorizing the weak. and if they go to war against a person with the same ammo they shoot without looking killing or harming someone who has nothing to do with their beef. to put it they are COWARDS.— dblue71
- I cant begin to imagine how hard it must be to stand up to the person who raped you but this woman seemed to express no guilt whatsoever about the things this animal did after the case was dropped because she didnt go through with it. Stop snitchin is a disgrace. People are so scared to do the right thing but dont realize these crimanals will kill, rape, or steal from them without thinking twice. Stand up for yourself and your family and friends and show some pride.— Honestabe71
Comment removed.- If you want to know how this happens you just have to sit on a Philadelphia jury. Last time I had jury duty the brothers were not going to convict a brother. It was obvious that this person was guilty. I am a brother and I wanted this guy behind bars but it was not going to happen. It was a hung jury and we found out that this was the third time the case was tried. I am sure he walked until he was arrested for another crime.— Northeast
I have sat down and read this story and congrats to the Inquirer for writing such an outstanding piece. I moved away from Philly almost 25 years ago and never looked at returning to live there again. Although my Father and Brother still live in West Philadelphia I always told myself that if you have to live in a place where your home feels like a prison you can have it. When I do go home you are quickly reminded by the random acts of crime and despair that it is not like it use to be. Although I have been offered many jobs back in the area I have declined. Life is just too short to be dealing with the foolishness of what the city has to offer!- looks like scranton pa's FUTURE— 2big2fail
- i hope they do what they say. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE PRISON THEN PEOPLE WOULD TESTIFY— chbradburd
- This is a damn shame and I love the city! I was born and raised in West and Southwest Philly, but I would be damned if I moved my family back to Philly. I cannot put their lives in danger because of someone elses stupidity.
- i had to leave my home, job, friends most of my dogs because the system failed. my clothes, jewelry and my life because of a probation officer who believed the man taunting and threatening me. great system— chbradburd
- Welp, i was asssaulted in ucity yesterday. The DA's office wanted to charge me $40 to file a criminal complaint. And the police dept wants 25$ for a copy of the report. And they let the dude out already. Good stuff.— yawns
- The solution is simple. If a witness is killed, instant execuction for the criminal. If the government won't do so then the person's family should do so. I know if I was on a jury for a trial of a person that killed the scum that killed a family member I would acquit.— strandedinohio
- I also moved. The police are mired in a system where they still probably do administrative work on a typewriter. If Philly wants to change, and it doesn't - they would enact a mandatory 5 year prison sentence for having an unlicensed gun, regardless of any other crime or not - get caught, go to jail. But that would be viewed as racist....— kww
I moved 1000 miles away over 10 years ago. My kids are being raised in a decent environment and learning respect for themselves and others. Get out now while you can. Get far away. The politicians and lawyers in that city are nothing but self-serving slime. Lynne Abraham will retire as another smug wealthy lawyer. All she accomplished was to speed up the process of a city that was already dying. Bottom feeders....crack dealers and lawyers alike.- When are the law makers going to wake up and get these judges off the bench. All you have to is sit in gun court and watch the probation flow, not jail time. If you are a victim the da's office puts them aside for the conviction over what the victim went through. My wife was a victim of a crime and the da and the defective belived the offender then my wife. A person can be found guilty and still not serve any jail time. How many times can we keep doing this by letting these thugs think that they can get away with these crimes. We need stiffer sentence on these thugs. If they do a murder and after they get there appeales they should be put to death. You will then save your 30,000 a year. Put 10 down you just saved 300,000.— sean1004
- This is another day in philly. All you have to do is get the right lawer and he/she will buy you a way out. It's all about what law firm pays to what judge's relection. Then the judge's interpation of the law, not what it says in the crime code. These judge's that the fine people of Killidelphia voted in to office is lauging all the way to the bank.— sean1004
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- This series seems to vindicate N.R.A. .The N.R.A has been saying for years that the Gov. needs to enfore the laws that we have(not make new"common sense " laws). Maybe then the criminals will get punished and not the good people of this city. However, this will not happen because the same people have been running Phily for the past 30 years!— geocase
- This series seems to vindicate N.R.A. .The N.R.A has been saying for years that the Gov. needs to enfore the laws that we have(not make new"common sense " laws). Maybe then the criminals will get punished and not the good people of this city. However, this will not happen because the same people have been running Phily for the past 30 years!— geocase
- This series seems to vindicate N.R.A. .The N.R.A has been saying for years that the Gov. needs to enfore the laws that we have(not make new"common sense " laws). Maybe then the criminals will get punished and not the good people of this city. However, this will not happen because the same people have been running Phily for the past 30 years!— geocase
- I have recently become a regular visitor because of my son's attendance at Temple. After walking the "safe" areas with my famly I felt that there is something unhealthy about Philly and the people who walked the streets with me and my family. I felt unsafe in these areas in broad daylight. It reminded me of New York twenty or so years ago. Your reporting on the Criminal justice system is magnificent journalism and explains my unease. How has this state of affairs been reached? What keeps a consensus amongst the decent black and white people from solving it? I hope your coverage continues to investigate and explore solutions. Will the people tolerate a city being run by the criminal class?— tomcom
- I have recently become a regular visitor because of my son's attendance at Temple. After walking the "safe" areas with my famly I felt that there is something unhealthy about Philly and the people who walked the streets with me and my family. I felt unsafe in these areas in broad daylight. It reminded me of New York twenty or so years ago. Your reporting on the Criminal justice system is magnificent journalism and explains my unease. How has this state of affairs been reached? What keeps a consensus amongst the decent black and white people from solving it? I hope your coverage continues to investigate and explore solutions. Will the people tolerate a city being run by the criminal class?— tomcom
Excellent series! I posted the link on Twitter with recommendation to read. This is not just a Philly problem, it is nationwide. Now go one step further and add the problem people and lawyers have when filing complaints against judges and the judicial system. See my story Toxic Justice, news about judicial whistleblowers and failures of our justice system, and resources to learn more at http://www.nancyswan.com— NSwan- I say kill them all and let god sort them out.... They will kill you!— faceoff
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This is why new gun laws will likely do nothing; we have a hard enough time implementing the ones we already have. Good job, Inky; do more stories like this and you'll make it through these rough times.— Ilmare- ProphesyFulfilled, you mean small minded suburban realists. The suburbanites are not the problem and swimming pools are not the problem. The problem is people who scream about swimming pools and then ignore the real issue in front of their eyes.— Xanthene
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- So many things to say, not enough patience or self control to keep from saying something that will get me kicked off here! It's obvious that something needs to be done, but really even after these articles will anything be done? Here's a question to all the cop haters and those who feel the need to turn the other way when a crime occurrs......when you are the vicitm, who do you call? When someone puts a gun in your face, who do you call? When someone steals your car, who do you call? When someone threatens your life, who do you call? You get my point, the cops are only good when it's convenient to you, if you hate the cops.....don't ever call them!— LawEnforce
- A very small , but effective step would be to kick the totally incompetent Clerk of Quarter Sessions out of the criminal justice system . Hire their good workers , there are a number of them - but this office is totally inept and incapable of straightening itself out . Failing to even try to collect the billion dollars owed by criminals to Philadelphia is only one of the areas where these idiots fall short. The Clerk's office is far worse than the Board of Revision of Taxes , which is being completely re-structured .— publius sempronius tuditanus
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TEN WORST LARGE CITIES FOR MURDER, 2002 CITY PER 100,000 (1) Washington, DC 45.8 (2) Detroit 42.0 (3) Baltimore 38.3 (4) Memphis 24.7 (5) Chicago 22.2 (6) Philadelphia 19.0 (7) Columbus 18.1 (8) Milwaukee 18.0 (9) Los Angeles 17.5 (10) Dallas 15.8 SELECTED WORST CITIES MURDER (LATE-1990s) EUROPE AND USA CITY MURDERS PER 100,000 (1) Washington, D.C., USA 69.3 (2) Philadelphia, USA 27.4 (3) Dallas, USA 24.8 (4) Los Angeles, USA 22.8 (5) Chicago, USA 20.5 (6) Phoenix, USA 19.1 (7) Moscow, Russia 18.1 (8) Houston, USA 18.0 (9) New York City, USA 16.8 (10) Helsinki, Finland 12.5 (11) Lisbon, Portugal 9.7 (12) San Diego, USA 8.0 (13) Amsterdam, Netherlands 7.7 (14) Belfast, N.Ireland, UK 4.4 (15) Geneva, Switzerland 4.2 (16) Copenhagen, Denmark 4.0 (17) Berlin, Germany 3.8 (18) Paris, France 3.3 (19) Stockholm, Sweden 3.0 (20) Prague, Czechoslovakia 2.9 (return to contents)- Comment removed.
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Question - is his family OK with his 44 arrests? His grandmom should be testifiying against him by that point.— gho_matt- Comment removed.
- It's the courts and the judges that let this happen. No postponements should be allowed. You aren't ready.. tough luck, make it part of the trial or appeal. In the meantime you stay in jail. Defense postponements should totally be disallowed.— Tiller
- There are so many factors involved that it hurts my head. We keep focusing on the end product of the problem and not the problem it self. Which is why we remain static. Stop going after the petty drugs. It is a waste of time and public money and they only do it because it is easy to prove. As far as the stop snitchin. Can you blame the people? Society has crapped on the poor since day one. I wish they would cooperate, but I myself am skeptical of the police. Look at the news police just helped cover up a beating of a mexican immigrant for fun. The guy was beat to death in front of his fiancee.— tom806
Pet Clark and Blind Mellow, your bigoted comments are disgraceful. As for the reporting in this article - How about if victims and witnesses have the courage to step forward? How about if they refuse to give up, even though the wheels of justice are notoriously slow and unoiled? What bothered me about this article, more than anything else, was reading victims of violent crime - people robbed at gunpoint! - saying "it wasn't worth the hassle" and "I didn't want to get involved." You didn't want to get involved??! You were robbed! You're already involved! Participate in the justice system, or don't be surprised when your failure to participate results in the perpetrator going free. Yes, there are huge problems in the Philadelphia criminal justice system. Unfortunately, one of the biggest are the people who "didn't want to get involved."— LDV24- This is a good series by the Inquirer, but if they really want people like John Gassew arrested and jailed, it will take more than once-a-decade Pulitzer bids to get the job done. I checked your archives and there is only one mention of Gassew in your pages, from October 2009. All those years robbing people and being arrested, and nothing from you guys. Don't you have a responsibility to alert the public too? How about putting his mugshot on the front page of the paper, every single day, until he's jailed? Do you have the courage to do that?— hopdevil
- why everyone is surprised ? city is run by liberal democrats, and this is just what you get . too lenient , too lazy— Vlad
- These Judges need to have their asses handed to them. Lock these creeps up and throw away the key! and excuse me but I really don't want to hear that "he had a hard life" oh poor thing, bad things happen,that doesn't justify bad behavior, get over it. No wonder no one wants to live in Philadelphia anymore, the justice system is corrupt and the city is overun with lawless thugs. I don't blame the Police they can only do so much. The Police, the DA and the Judges need to work together to make this city safe.— storm3
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- For almost 2 years now...our ‘Honorable” State Legislature was informed that Philadelphia was being short-changed by Rendell in dealing with our crime problem. They were told in writing, with evidence that thousands of violent State Prison inmates were being released only to save state budget funds. "Public Safety" be damned. They were told, with evidence that deadly, dangerous felons were not being sent back to prison when they committed serious Parole Violations and that Philadelphia had also been short-changed for years in term of State Parole Agents. Caseloads remain so high that no one is being "supervised", only monitored. Adequate drug testing has also purposely been dropped. They were told this well before SGT. Stephen Liczbinski was brutally murdered, but they did nothing. They were told again and again, with evidence, murder victim after murder victim...destroyed family after destroyed family. The State Senate even stopped a Bill that would have saved lives...they let it die in a Senate committee after it sailed through the House. HB1271, will probably suffer this same fate. The PIAZZA MURDERS are just the latest "Newsworthy" example of the "Parolee Murders" they've been told about. Murchison, the triggerman on the PIAZZA MURDERS, was released by the Parole Board as soon as he was available. He went to a Community Corrections Center, where he could just walk away. Rendell saves about $30,000 per inmate, per year this way...but Philadelphia has to make up this betrayal of sacred public trust in blood, bodies and destroyed families. The "studies", Criminal Justice Advisory Board, blaming guns, resolutions...it's all just more opiate for the masses. One trick after another to get our attention off of our "Elected Thieves and Betrayors". Look how the media and the fooled public even tries to lessen the severity of OPM Fumo's crimes that span 2 decades and includes destroying evidence and repeated prejury. Should not the term "Honorable" be earned?— John Law
- I think I have the solution. The state should let Philadelphia enact and enforce their own gun laws NOT that would be letting the inmates run the jail our system is broken and the gang running the jail right now couldn't fix anything.So they want more gun laws so the overworked police force will have more to worry about. time for an uprising the citizens need to take this city back away from the corrupt politicians the lame judges and the party machine that has lead us for the last 50 plus years.If we start at the top and work our way down maybe just maybe the strict gun laws on the books will be enforced and the career criminals will stay in jail instead of killing and robbing the people of our town.Lets stop pampering the criminals and start worry about the law abiding citizens— bobg1812
- Dead ringer for Adma Duritz in his dreadlock phase. He changes his look like I change socks. Where do he find the time?— tr88
- My congratulations to the Inquirer for this series of hard-hitting, truth-proclaiming articles! This said, I wonder how the Inquirer can reconcile this absolute breakdown of justice in this city with its indorsement in every election for the past 30 years of the people who have let it happen. There is a lot of responsibility to be shared in this debacle.— DonQ
- What a joke, but that is what you get with the pathetic leadership that Philadelphia has had forever... I could care less about the billion which is a non collectible amount...Where is the plan to take these criminals off the street. My life is worth more than 30,000/year to incarcerate— rlac11
- Fantastic series, Inquirer. You've more than demonstrated your worth to the community. My only wish is that this analysis came before the last time that idiot DA was elected (and I mean Abraham, not Williams). Surely there is a lot of blame to go around, but her failure to even acknowledge a problem, much less help with a fix, speaks volumes. She's a ghost.— Wannabeer
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- This is a stunning series - one of the best ever written. Lynne Abraham, presiding over this travesty, should be forced to resign - in shame. I realize there will be a new DA shortly - but every day she is there is a day justice is denied.— JWS54
- This report brings to mind that Nas song "Got Yourself a Gun." Our justice system is a joke...you'd better arm yourselves people!— khase
- This report highlights something else -- clearly it's the same people committing multiple crimes. If they would actually get tougher on violent crimes instead of stupid stuff like marijuana possession, the crime rate would plummet. But lets be real here, there isn't any REAL concern for getting criminals off the street. Ever watched the Wire?— khase
- My wife and I have been to criminal court twice. The first time, a serial sex offender, who exposed himself to our 6 and 5 year old daughters, and my wife as she pushed their 2 year old brother over the Spring Garden Bridge was set free and offered psychological evaluation and treatment. He was a homeless man who went by several names and addresses in Powelton Village and downtown. He came to my house with a friend trying to break in to intimidate my family but failed to gain entry. When I stood up in front of my civic association about, a Black man, an administrator from Drexel University, denounced me for describing the perp as Black. The entire group ostracized me for accurately describing a repeat sex offender. My wife was not to be deterred. She went to the bars in Mantua and told the men there what was going on and we received a phone call from our Black neighbors that had their young daughter similarly violated. It is not hard to see that it is upper middle class, including the coopted overassimilated Black professionals that drone on about slavery, racism, discrimination at swimming pools while thousands are shot every year, hundreds die every year, thousands are raped every year, but we can NOT arrest our way out of crime. If we can not face the force of violent crime with equal and superior countvailing force to contain it, what are we supposed to do? While non profits expend hundreds of millions of dollars in relief in the form of public housing, free medical care, food stamps, etc all the rowhouse citizens hear is that the root causes of crime must be addressed to stop the bullets from flying. What are we supposed to do about the already heavily armed, heartless killers who have passed early child hood development and won't appreciate a mid night basketball game? The police need more support, than a lavish funeral and scholarships for their orphaned children.
- Let's see...if a guy can get arrested 44 times and serve minimal time in jail...would you be in a rush to snitch on him??? Clearly the system is broken and witnesses KNOW this. This report is just highlighting what most of us already know: the system is a joke and if you testify against someone it is highly likely they will still beat the case and come after you. There is no "stop snitching campaign" and I wish these white idiots would stop repeating what they see on tv. If you lived in a violent neighborhood and you know the system is a joke, you too would be scared for your life @ the thought of being a witness in a criminal case. The police do NOT protect witnesses - they only do that on TV!— khase
- No second chance and no third chance, Ramsey. This trash needs to be removed from society. When someone sticks a gun in your face and threatens to kill you for whatever the reason, charge them with attempted murder and put them away for life. They don't deserve a second chance, let alone a 44th chance. I'm just glad the Inquirer has posted this POS's picture all over the web.— Philatonian
- I agree with hopdevil - ever since the push on the "war on drugs", the prisons are overflowing with people who often have no previous criminal records, but who were found in possession of some sort of drug. It has become a source of revenue for the police - to confiscate vehicles just because they find drugs on the passengers and then to sell those vehicles for more funding even though the person whose car it was may have never made a penny selling drugs, but who was only using them. Their focus is heavily on the drug trade and the violent criminals walk. Change the focus, people. Go after the TRUE criminals (both the ones on the streets and the ones in office!)— SJ Cynic
- And, gun control will never solve a problem like Gessew. All gun laws do is make the rest of us more vulnerable to thugs like him! If we all had weapons in our homes, thieves would think twice before breaking in because they would understand that at least one of those homeowners might use their weapon. Seriously - who are they going to burglarize? The guy who has a stash of guns (legally) and isn't afraid to use them or the little old lady next door who can't harm a fly?— SJ Cynic
- First, in cases like these why isn't bail set high. I understand jail crowding, but clearly police and prosecutors knew of his danger to the public. Bail at $12500 is extremely low. Second, the city should get Federal or State money to fund a focused group to get recognized high serial felons (burglars, DWI, armed robberies) prosecuted speedily and expeditiously.— westsideratsalem
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- Philadelphia is one big cesspool!— helen t
- Great Article. It makes you wonder how hard the city is actually trying to find the fugitives, as they don't have any place to put them anyways. One billion in bail owed? No computer records of who owes? The DA and Philly court system seem to be completely mismanaged and incompetent. An embarrassment for the city. Appalling that crimes can be committed with no fear of conviction.— Raz
Don't forget the ACLU which has made it impossible for law enforcement to operate in this city. To them, the rights of criminals are above all else. Almost everyone who posted here is filled with outrage. Do you think a conventional solution can fix this? Perhaps martial law is in order. A suspension of the "rights" may be necessary. Perhaps "Star Chamber" time is here. If 10,000 or 20,000 could be rounded up in a single week, professional criminals and parasites who have done nothing by horrific acts to society, this city may have a chance to right itself instead of sinking. And a total reformation of politicians ( parasites themselves) judges, defense attorneys, and the other assorted scum of society must be given their walking papers. Martial Law for 10 years. When asked if we have a Constitution, Franklin replied, "Yes, if you can keep it." Obviously, we have have failed. But the real problem is that no civilized society was designed to bear up under such an onslaught of so much criminal behavior. One out of 32 Phila. residents is a fugitive. I'm sorry, but only a violent purge that will be accompanied by much wailing and gnashing of teeth can reverse this.— Yermak29- Excellent reporting job-- much like the old days when the Inquirer mattered. As to the conviction rate, the DA should be forced to report to City Council every 6 months on this issue, and the report should be made public and covered closely by the Inquirer. As to "stop snitchin'", look east (to Camden) and south (to Chester)-- that's where Philadelphia is headed. If that's what you want, keep "despising" the police and undermining your own safety and the future of your children. New York does not have this problem (non-conviction issue, high rate of gun robbery) on anything like the level we have in Philadelphia, why?— rossinkrantz
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- People get what they vote for. I think we should change the Constitution.— DeGaul4
- This is a towering achievement for the Inquirer. This detailed and well informed reporting of the degeneration of the justice system in Philadelphia could truly be the best contribution this newspaper has made to its readers in more than a decade. Now, watch the people in power take stabs at discrediting this magnificient report.— DonQ
- Maybe some day Philly will be first for something, else like trading volume for the local harbors. This is a matter of political will to solve. Michael Nutter are you up to it?— Peter of Manassas
- hopdevil, Here's an idea... help teach kids that drugs, pot and crack included, do ABSOLUTLEY NO GOOD TO ANYONE except the drug dealers. If Philly could stop the demand for drugs tomorrow, crime would go to almost zero over night. They need to make NOT doing drugs as cool as not snitching. Put in a new rule, no 10% bail for anyone who has ever skipped on bail or missed a hearing even just once. 100% cash bail or jail then.— Tiller
- the system is broken we know that. i challenge these writers to investigate the warrant unit. there are some good guys but for the most part they are one step away from being locked up themselves. they illegally detain people, run over civilians with there cars and savagely beat people to get what they want. all of this is swept under the rug by their captain. the city needs to save money, my suggestion is to fire these criminal bums with badges.— joefox19
- Good article but BTW, I hate the new internet format. I would like to be able to download the whole article at once like you used to be able to, not page by page. What I got from this article is that while out on bail these criminals commit at least 10 (that the system becomes aware of), more offenses before they get bail high enough to keep them off the streets. Lock them all up and crime could be lessened ten fold. The bottom line is drug prevention. That needs to be where the money goes. These crimminals don't have the money to pay owed bail anyway. They'll just steal more to get it.— Tiller
- Thank you to the City of Philadelphia and its justice system for being a complete joke and a total waste of time. As always, thank you for being completely useless and totally ineffectual. Bravo.— kpic
- Vigilante justice is never good, but I do agree that citizens need to arm themselves. We need some no-nonsense castle laws to make sure that honest citizens can protect themselves without fear of civil lawsuits.— gtown_teach
- Just one more reason why this city is such a cesspool. If most of the law abiding folks who live here had ever spent any length of time anywhere else, this city would be virtually empty except for the criminals and the corrupt politicians and city employees.— intelliwoman
- Towman: I pay a ridiculously high 4% wage tax to live and work in Philly. That's real hard-earned money that's not coming to me and my family. I help out enough.— chrissmith
- Great job guys. Amazing articles. My main comment excerpted from a blog following the Inquirer (http://murmuringbythewaterfall.blogspot.com/) -- The article is comprehensive but does not delve deep enough into the question of how signed witness testimony can get released and distributed, sometimes even posted on restaurant walls and telephone poles like a lost dog notice. It should be illegal for defense lawyers to give their clients copies of such statements, and lawyers should be held accountable if copies appear around town. When in my job as a writer I get emails from sources at law firms, they contain very specific statements warning against copying and distribution of confidential materials. These people know how to manage paperwork.— denfair
- Well this explains why so many criminals are out there. For all you saying something needs to be done, how many are willing to help? I'm not saying go out and arrest these people but there are things you can do to help. Volunteer to help change these paper records into computer. If you can spend one Saturday a month helping to figure out where someone is, thats timed saved for the actaul officers. My wife volunteers at the local Sheriff's Department. Once a week she files for them. Menial work but it helps.— towman
- A very good series-thanks for running them. I arm myself. So to the cowardly, evil defense attorneys who love the crimes these evil b**trds & b**ches commit-they are going to Hell. Mess with me or my family & friends, and I'll make sure to send them there personally. And enjoy it! Evil must be wiped out. Perhaps this city needs a good bloodbath-a good amount of vigilante justice against the violent criminals who hate us & prey on us. I don't care if your Irish, Italian, black, Asian, whatever-you need to be wiped out.— Paul B
- People need to realize this is a city-wide emergency. There no are longer "safe" and "unsafe" areas of the city. Even places like Manayunk, Roxborough, and Center City are now affected. There's only such much room to hold over 40,000 criminals!— chrissmith
- Somebody fairly responsible is posting that 10% bail. Go after that balance by any legal means and watch the bail money dry up.— vernon6x
- From reading this series of reports, QUESTIONS should have been asked along time ago why the system doesn't work? Having a BILLION dollars of unpaid bonds is obsene, and the 10% down system has been going on since the late seventies??? And copies of the payment or unpayment attached to their files???? Somebody needs to accountable for this UNJUSTICE to Philadelphians, start with the mayor and the pollitical cronies in city council and work your way down....THIS IS CRIMINAL....— Dadair1
- Why can't we make a list of people, like Timothy Scott, then systematically dispose of them. And by dispose I mean decapitate. They contribute nothing to this world. All they are doing is stealing air that I may need one day.— BJOisDumb
- From reading this series,— Dadair1
- Very well done series by the Inquirer however why has Nutter not been interviewed for this article? And if he has and is not responding, then why does it not tell us that?— ashleypeskoe
- First, congratulations for bringing back journalism on the scale that our lives in Philadelphia are actually lived, experienced and suffer through. The out of control crime threatens to expand outside of the poor neighborhoods and turn over half the city into a failed region, unsafe,ungovernable and on a trajectory to unredeemable backwater status. But it does not have to be the case. Certainly, the police department can start policing the area that need it and be supported by the rest of the justice system and the penal system.
- Here's an idea. Decriminalize possession of marijuana and small amounts (a gram or less) of cocaine, including crack. That will allow a system that's stretched to the breaking point to focus on the real problem, violent offenders. We can't afford $30,000 a year hotel stays for drug users.— hopdevil
- Broken Justice System, broken schools, pervasive corruption, broken city finances, a large per centage of the City's residents are morally bankrupt. But above all, Vote Democrat, keep the machine fed.— tr88
- This is a system created by lawyers, run by lawyers and is 1 billion in debt. This is a outrage!!!!— jerryk2b
- Ladies and Gentilmen...let's review the crime problem in Killadelphia over just the last year...K? Let's look at Gov. Rendell, the State Parole Board, The Mayor, City Council, State Attorney General and remember the following small, partial list of State Parole Offenders who made the papers.... Besides Murchison and Wilson (The PIAZZA MURDERS) and Porter, Evans (Murderers), let's add Carrisquillo (Rapist), Shaw (Frankford Rapist), don't forget Burgess (Serial Killer and Rapist); Giddings, Cain, Warner (COP KILLERS); Wilson, Norman, Magee, Lassister, Hill, Trinsey, Wise, Latham, Bryant and the 4 out of the 5 gunmen who just recently murdered "Piggy" the mother of 4 children (All are Shoot-Out Artists and again were under State Parole "Supervision"). Why were they on the street and kept on the street? Money...to save money. State Budget Monies (specifically) that were spent on "No Bid" and about 60 million on other "Inappropiate" Contracts that went to Campiagn Contributors and friends of Governor Rendell. Why are so few Parole Violators being sent back to prison for serious offenses and even kept on the street while they have new open court cases...like Carrisquillo? Why are there so few State Parole Field Agents in Killadelphia? Why are 2,000 State Inmates being released each month? MONEY. The Mayor, City Council, State Legislature, State's Attorney General were all told about 21 months ago about this SCANDAL and they have done nothing to stop it. Studies...proposed legislation...it’s all more opium for the masses. Want to help? Encourage all the victims and surviving family members to sue the State. Ask our Mayor and City Council to sue the State and get our money back! Email Mike.Levy@usdoj.gov and ask him to investigate and prosecute "The Rendell Murders", he'll know what you are talking about 215-861-8200. The President's Comment Line = 1-202-456-1111. Remember State Parolees are responsible for our Murder and Crime Rates. Take action...make some calls.— John Law
- These articles are an absolute disgrace to the court system, the DA, and the city law department. Pathetic. An absolute embarrassment. But I'm sure all these agencies will continue to make excuses.— chrissmith
- On the "stop snitchin" mentality: I was listening to WIP 610 the other week, and a caller said he'd just seen a hit-and-run accident (while on the phone). The caller said he had to hang up to call police. Afterwards, Ike Reese, one of the sports commentators on the air, said he wouldn't have called the police. He said if he saw a car hit another car and run off, he wouldn't give the license tag to police. UNBELIEVABLE! What does it say about our society when people like Ike Reese, a former sports star who has the attention of young people listening to WIP, perpetuate the "stop snitchin" mentality on the air? That Ike Reese wouldn't call police when he saw a hit and run crime, and say as much to the public over the air, is very telling of what our culture here in Philly has come to.— Jim19130
- Why is it that at the END of Abraham's tenure we get this series? The Inquirer endorsed Lynne for all the years she ran for office. The Inquirer would run articles that her office "leaked" about how bad everyone else was... judges, court admin, defense attorneys.... everyone BUT her office... All of those articles without ONCE looking at the DAs and their motives. Why is it that this series ASSUMES everyone arrested is guilty? Do the writers at the Inquirer understand that this same DAs office had a policy, in collaboration with the police, to arrest, charge and sort it out later (in the courts) without regard to guilt or innocence at the charging level? Have the writers ever taken a course in statistics? I ask because they use statistics to make their point without consideration of other factors... such as what I cite above. This series is a mess on so many levels.— jodyd
- This country has the highest incarceration in the world, and jails in Philly and PA are bursting at the seams. No doubt, the solution to all of our problems, however, is to stuff a few thousand more in there at $25,000 a pop. Then we'll all feel safe, everyone on the outside will be model citizens, and it will be much easier to ignore the causes of crime and leave our City with rotting neighborhoods, lousy schools, and no libraries (well we'll have to sacrifice something to pay for the increase in jails, won't we?) Thank you Inquirer; now please, the rest of us; it's our job to simply believe . . . believe that more dungeons, not ending poverty, are the keys to the City's peace and prosperity.— Stan Shapiro
- The black community has an ongoing "stop snitching" campaign that has more to do with frustrating the police--whom they despise--than with fear for their personal safety. That's a cultural issue within the black community that will not be solved with more funding. Why don't you mention that?— hopdevil
- Comment removed.
- Congratulations to the Inquirer and the fine work done by reporters Nancy Phillips, Craig McCoy and Dylan Purcell. This is an important story, effectively told. Let's hope that real change is inspired by this effort and that more stories of this caliber follow.— Sherrill56
- Absolute Disgrace....the city and it's law enforcement, DA's office and whoever else is involved should be embarrassed!!!! I work in a surrounding county and deal mostly with Philadelphia criminals, when they say their charges will be dropped, they laugh b/c they know the truth. The 99% dismissal rate.....i'm sick over this. In order for me to do my job, other's need to do their's. Again, I still can't believe this story!— LawEnforce
- HEY: It's brutal when the thugs own the town. No one trusts the city leaders to help them out. To many drugs and WAY too many guns. People that can move away, move away. The poor people can't move and the cancer grows.— mungman
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